Electric clock



July 29', 1924. 1,502 840 c. L. BEARD ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Sent. 30. 192] 2 Sheets$heet 1 Jul 29 1924.

C. L. BEARD ELECTRIC CLOCK 2 Shees-Sham 2 Filed Sent. 30 192] COMPOSITE C011 /7 07i7'0/Z.

. tric Clocks,

Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

emu-s L. amen. or CHESTER, rmmsnvm ELEO'IBIO onocx.

Application filed September 30, 1921. Serial No. 604.898.

To all whom it may come-m:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elecof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates totime measuring devices and more particularly to that type of device known as secondary clocks which are designed to be controlled in their operation by a master clock. Such clocks or secondary devices are commonly used in manufacturing plants, hotels, theatres, stations, ships, &c., in fact wherever in a plurality clock system the time is held uniform with and by an accuratemaster clock.

A main object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective electrically operated mechanism for actuating such devices and by so doing avoid the wear to which clocks using pawls, escapements, ratchets, and other mechanical means are subject.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, the operation of which is ensured regardless the clock is required to be installed or placed. The installations of secondary clock systems on ships in particular have been unsatisfactory due to the extreme ranges of movement to obviating therein,

which the ships are subjected in a high sea, thus causing at times the failure of types of clocks employing oscapements, mercury balances, and other mechanical means under such conditions. Excessive vibration, jars, etc., have interfered with such secondary devices in some applications and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a structure which will function when installed in any position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a secondary device which is silent,

by the particular construction and means hereinafter described,

. chanical means,

all noise which so commonly attends the movement or shifting of the hands or indicating members of devices employing mesuch as ratchets, pawls, and escapements. Such noises are decidedly objectionable under some conditions where the installations of clocks are called for.

In large time systems'it has become comresiding at 1 mon practice to operate electrically, so called secondary clocks in identical time registry with a master clock the operation being obtained by circuit making and breaking means connected with the master clock and controlling circuits to the operating mechanism of the secondary clocks. My invention provides a simple, efiective and silent electrically operated secondary clock for such systems and one in which the actuating member is operated by magnets and without the necessity of mechanical escapements, ratchets, and pawls thereby ensuring the function of the device in any place or position of operation which is found to be necessary.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 isi'a-view showing in main part the actuating armature and magnets and their relative positions.

Fig. 2 is a detailed viewof one of the pole pieces of the armature. I

Fig. 3 and Fig. tarevie 'wia showing ma nets and pole pieces disengaged and in operative engagement respectively.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views showing modified forms of pole pieces.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a commutator and its electrical connections with the master clock.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the device at right angles to Fig. 1.

Broadly the invention consists of a rotating armature which is actuated by two or more magnets acting alternately on the armature to rotate it in periodic movements, one magnet beginning the movement another magnet completing it. Between the periodic movements the moving parts may be held stationary either by the magnetic action of one of the magnets on the armature or by means of a spring or other drag hearing lightly on one of the moving parts. This spring or drag should when used bear with a pressure only sufficient to hold the moving parts from motions which might result from a displacement or sudden jar to the clock or from other similar causes. This would mean only a slight pressure, the indicating members of the device being counterbalanced, and such as would dissipate but a small part of the effort exercised by the magnets in moving the armature. The magnets may all be electromagnets or one may be a permanent magnet and the other or others electromagnets. --When a permanent magnet is used it Will serve to nets which, in the form of my invention shown, namely a secondary electric clock, are energized through electric connections made by a master clock and by a suitable source of electric current such as a battery. Part A is an armature of substantially disc shape having radial pole pieces integral therewith, the pole pieces being indicated at B B B etc., the number of pole pieces not necessarily being limited. On the spindle D is mounted a gear which meshes with a suitable train of gears for operating the hands of a clock. The magnets C and C are connected by suitable connections to a master clock E in which is a commutator which at intervals of one half minute or other interval makes the following cycle of connections and disconnections viz; first opening of circuit to magnet C and immediately thereafter and, second. the establishing of a circuit through the magnet C and the source of an electric current indicated by F and the holding thereof for the brief interval of time necessary for the magnet C to pull the pole B over so that the tip i 1 is directly over it, third, the breaking of the circuit through the magnet C and the making of a circuit through the magnet C and the source of current F and the holding thereof for the remainder of the minute. Upon the making of the circuit through the magnet C pole B is attracted to magnet C so that the tip M thereof comes to rest over magnet C At the end of each interval of a minute the tip of a succeeding pole is brought to rest over magnet C for a brief interval of time and then the tip of a pole is swung over to magnet C where it is held for the remainder of the interval. The interval of one minute during which the complete cycle of action takes place is only arbitrary and the interval may be changed to a multiple or a fraction thereof as conditions require. The use of a commutator for making and breaking electrical connections is commonly known to all familiar with the art as is also the use of a master clock for actuating and regulating the same.

Th combination of parts and cycle of operations it will be seen allows the use of a simple movement or motion of the primary late the proper motion to the registering or indicating parts where the primary actuator has more than one direction of motion such as is found in a reciprocating arma-. ture.

The-cutting away of the part 0 of the pole pieces as shown in Fig. 2 results in the swinging of the pole piece through an ap-' preciable angle or are before it comes to restover the center of the magnet. This motion results from a variable andincreasing force belng executed on a pole plece by a magnet as the pole piece advances from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4

or as otherwise expressed the shortening of the path of the magnetic flux from the;

magnet to the pole piece.

The same effect may be obtained by th if forms of pole pieces such as those shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

In some cases where it is not desired to have the circuit energized when not moving the armature a simple spring drag may be included which will bear on any .of the moving partssuch as A or D and which 1 will exert a pressure just sufiicient to keep the moving parts from motion except when one of the magnets actuates the armature.

When one of the magnets is a permanent magnet it is placed in a position correspond-- ing to magnet C in Fig. 1 and the cycle of movement and operation will be as follows IUD Magnet C being energized by the source of power through the connection made by the commutator in the master clock and being stronger than the permanent magnet llli') will move the pole piece B in Fig. 1 so v .1

that the tip M will come to rest over its center. The electrical connection in the master clock being broken, magnet C' will no longer be energized and the permanent magnet in the position of magnet C will move the pole piece B so that its tip M will come to rest over the center of the permanent magnet where it will be held until magnet C is again energized which will be at the end of the minute, or other pre'de termined interval of time when the same cycle of actions is repeated.

In more specific description of the preferred form my invention and with reference to the drawing, the device consists of a clock frame of conventional construction consisting of plates 1 and 1 and the spacing post 2, the plates being fastened ll Q to the post b the screws 3. Suitably associated with t e plate 1 are posts or other fastening means which may be utilized in supporting the device. Mounted between the plates and journaled therein are a pluof the magnets may be used alone as an rality of spindles or posts such as 4, 5, 10, armature pole when in the position shown in etc. The members of the spindles-employed Fig. 3 will be held in that position while being determined by the amount of gearing the magnet-is energized. When it is not to be used and may be any number reasondesirable to employ the magnet for the pur- 7 able to the desi of the particular clock. pose, the sprin drag will hold the parts. In the form of d e vice shown spindle 5 has I have shown only a preferred form of rigidly mounted thereon adjacent to the my invention and many modifications of the plate 1 the gear 6 and also rigidly mounted means for holding the moving parts from thereon to rotate therewith, is the pinion motion will occur to one skilled in the art. 7 7. The gear 8 is loosely mounted on the and as a matter of fact, there are many com spindle and has a hub projection extending mon means for performing this function. through the plate 1' for the mounting of the The device described is not only adapted hour indicating hand and serving as a bearfor use in the specific application described, ing for the spindle 5 which also projects bebut may be modified for use in other leg yond the plate 1' to form a mounting for the istering devices as will readily occur to one minute hand of the device. skilled in the art.

In mesh with the pinion 7 and gear 8 is Havin described my invention in accordthe combined gear and pinion 9 serving as ance witli the requirements of the patent the reduction medium between the pinion 7 statutes, what I claim as new and desire to and the gear 8. This combined gear and secure by Letters Patent is: pinion is mounted on the spindle post 10 1. In mechanism of the class described supported by th late 1. A imilar e having a master clock provided with a combined gear and pinion is supported by a mutator, a suitable source of electric current spindle post on the late 1 and serves as and a secondary measuring device energized the compensating me ium in ear reduction by said source and through said commu'tab t th gear 6 d th g i in ini n tor, in combination in said secondary meas- 11. This driving pinion 11 is rigidl urmg device, a pair of electro-magnets mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith a adapted to be alternately energized and a jacent the plate 1 rotating armature having a plurality of The armature A is also mounted on this poles, said combination being characterized driving shaft 4 to rotate therewith and is by the following cycle of operations: first, held in a predetermined space relation with e m mg of an armature pole by one of regard to the plates of the frame by spacing Sald magnets into a position to be exerted portions or spacing collars 12. upon by a maximum force by said magnet; 1

Th armatur A in the form shown consecond, the holding of said position for an sists substantially of a disc having integral Interval of time; third, the moving away of therewith radial poles B B etc., which are S id pole from such position by the other equally spaced about the perimeter of the magnet, and simultaneously With said third armature. Each pole is formed substantialoperation, the moving of another pole into a 1 ly symmetrical with respect to a radius passpes t on to be exerted upon by the first of ing through it from the center of the armas l m gn s with a force less than the maxture A except that one corner is cut away lmum, said simultaneous operation being as hown t O in Fig, 2 rovidin t th caused by the action of the second magnet nt d f th ol piece a V ha d' rmoving an armature pole from a position 11 tion with one side of the V longer than the in Which said SGCOIld magnet exerts a force other. on said latter pole to a position in which it Th tti w y of art f th ol piece exerts a maximum force upon it; fourth, at 0 results in the swinging of the pole piece the Y g 0f he nd S id pole by the through anappreciable are befor it comes first said magnet into a position of-maxit t ever th Center of th ag t it mum force thereon, from which point said b i th extreme outer or d d d magnets continue to act upon said armature hi h centers everth magnet poles in the manner of the above cycle.

Magnets C and C are shown mounted on 2 In a secondary electric clock, in combith l t 1 b screws d ith th i axes nation, an armature havlng radlal pole parallel with the axes of the spindles. A p a p of e m gn sso la ed suitable insulating disc X is used as a spacer Wlth the armature and adapted to alternatebetween the magnet and the plate 1'. 1y attract said pole p eces as alternate im- In Fig. 1 a spring 13 is shown fastened p se p through d g tsto plate 1 and bearing on the armature spin- 3. A secondary electric clock comprising die for the purpose of holding the moving a frame, a chain of gears W1th1 n said frame, parts stationary when not actuated by one a rotatable armature w1th1n said frame, and of the magnets. This spring may be us d adapted to actuate sald chain of gears, said for the purpose described either alone or in m ure a g an odd number f d l conjunction with one of the magnets or one p es, 8 P Of e m gn and 11188118 whereby said magnets are alternatively energized to alternately attract and actuate successive pole pieces.

4, In a secondary electric clock, in combi- -5 nation, an armature having an odd number of pole pieces, a pair of electro-magnets associated with said armature and each adapted to actuate its successive pole piece as successive impulses pass through said magnets.

5. An electric clock mechanism having a master clock and a secondary clock, the latter comprising a rotatable armature having radial pole pieces, adapted to be alternately energized by said master clock whereby alternate pole pieces are successively attracted and actuated.

6. In a secondary electric clock, in combination, an armature having radial pole pieces, a pair of electro-magnets associated 2o With-i116 armature and adapted alternately two electro-magnets' to attract said pole pieces successively as alternate impulses pass through the electromagnets.

7. In a secondary electric clock, in combination, an armature having radial pole pieces, a pair of electro-magnets associated with the arinature and adapted alternately to attract said pole pieces successively as alternate impulses pass through the electromagnet's, the ends of said pole pieces being V shaped with one side of the V shorter than the other and having the magnets so arranged with respect thereto that when the point of the V of one of the teeth is centered over one of the magnets the point of the V of another of the teeth is laterally dis placed from the center of the magnet nearest it.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' CHARLES L. BEARD. 

